Federal Aviation Administration plans to close county airport's air controller tower could be halted by union negotiations, appeals

In this Sept. 18, 2008 file photo, air traffic controller Karl Haynes Jr. stands beneath a radar screen in the control tower at Washington's Reagan National Airport. Unlike Muskegon County Airport, the hub is not on the list of scheduled air traffic tower closures slated for April 7. AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File

Muskegon County Community Development Director Bob Lukens said while the airport is on
the list of control tower closures slated for April 7, it is also one of 49
FAA-staffed facilities that would require the government to negotiate with the National
Aircraft Controllers Association.

"Those
negotiations with the aircraft controllers union have not begun yet, so we're
waiting to see what will happen with those negotiations to see if we will
indeed be closing on April 7," Lukens said.

Lukens,
who has administrative oversight of the county's airport
and bus system, said that to his knowledge the negotiations have not started.

Marty
Piette, the county airport manager, told MLive and the Muskegon Chronicle recently
that if the air control tower shuts down as planned, pilots could coordinate
landings and takeoffs via radio. They currently use this method when the tower
shuts down at night, he said.

According to the FAA, air traffic control towers serve to provide pilots with information, prevent collisions
and maintain the prompt and orderly flow of air traffic traveling to and from
airport facilities.

Piette
said that the airport could contract with a private company to operate the air traffic control tower if the FAA shuts down the tower for the long-term and sheds its 25
full-time employees.

Lukens
said all other operations run by the
airport, such as maintenance and snow removal, will remain the same if the air control tower closes.